Detwiler good to start tomorrow, Haren could rejoin rotation next week

Davey Johnson wanted to wait until today before making the final determination that Ross Detwiler would be good to start tomorrow against the Brewers. Detwiler felt some stiffness in the left side of his lower back following his last start on Friday in New York, and while Detwiler came out of his side session yesterday feeling just fine, the Nats needed to see how the left-hander was today before ruling him good to go. Well, Detwiler feels fine today. So he's good to go. Detwiler's back has steadily improved over the last few days, and he'll get the ball tomorrow looking for his third win of the season. He had missed nearly a month from mid-May to mid-June with an oblique issue, but it looks like Detwiler will avoid a DL stint this time around. Meanwhile, Dan Haren is scheduled to throw a simulated game tomorrow, assuming the weather allows it. If he comes out of the simulated game OK, Haren will rejoin the Nats' rotation next week, possibly on July 8 or 9. Haren has been on the DL since June 25 (retroactive to June 23) with right shoulder inflammation, but he threw a bullpen session in New York on Sunday, and said he felt great. "But the ball was coming out of his hand real good (on Sunday)," Johnson said. "His cutter had a little better tilt, and everything was good." Catcher Wilson Ramos (strained hamstring) will continue his rehab assignment with high Single-A Potomac today. He'll likely catch nine innings tonight and then is scheduled to serve as the designated hitter tomorrow. If all goes well these next two days, Ramos could return to the Nationals' lineup on Thursday against the Brewers. Finally, reliever Ryan Mattheus said he'll throw off flat ground again tomorrow, and then is scheduled to throw off a mound over the weekend. That would be his first time toeing the rubber since breaking his right hand punching a locker back on May 20. The goal now is for Mattheus to start appearing in rehab games sometime shortly after the All-Star break, which would have him ready to return to the Nats either in late July or early August.